2,500 years of winemaking tradition
Legend has it that the Greeks brought the first vines to Corsica some 2,500 years ago. Since then, wine has been inseparable from the island. Today Corsica has approximately 9,000 hectares of vineyard and nine AOC regions, each with its own distinctive character.
Corsican wine has grown enormously in quality over recent decades. The awards at international wine competitions are numerous, but the best thing about Corsican wine is tasting it in the very landscape where it was made.
The grape varieties
Corsica has three indigenous grape varieties that you won't find in this form anywhere else:
- Nielluccio: the red flagship, grown mainly in Patrimonio and Cap Corse. Produces robust, fruity reds with good structure.
- Sciaccarello: "the grape that crunches between your teeth". Found primarily around Ajaccio and Sartene. Yields elegant reds and roses with spicy undertones.
- Vermentino: the white grape of the island. Delivers fresh, aromatic whites with notes of citrus and white blossom.
Other varieties such as Grenache, Mourvedre and a few others are also grown, but the true Corsican identity lies in these three indigenous grapes.
The nine AOC regions
Corsican wine carries the label Vin de Corse, sometimes supplemented with a specific origin:
- Patrimonio: the oldest and perhaps most celebrated wine region, at the foot of Cap Corse. Known for powerful reds from Nielluccio and elegant white Vermentino.
- Ajaccio: Sciaccarello reigns here. Wines with finesse and a lightly spicy character.
- Calvi: expansive vineyards in the Balagne with a broad palette of styles.
- Sartene: powerful, characterful wines from the southwest.
- Figari: the southernmost wine region, with old vines on granite soil.
- Porto-Vecchio: vineyards on hills of granite and sandstone.
- Cap Corse: famous for the sweet Muscat du Cap Corse, a dessert wine of exceptional quality.
- Coteaux du Cap Corse: exclusively for Muscat.
- Vin de Corse (generic): wines from across the eastern seaboard.
Insider tip Patrimonio is compact and easy to explore. You can visit several wine estates in a single afternoon. Combine it with lunch in Saint-Florent, one of the most charming coastal towns on the island.
Visiting winemakers
The best thing about wine on Corsica is that you can taste it at the source. Most winemakers are happy to welcome visitors for a tasting, often without an appointment. You'll end up in places you would never otherwise discover: a vineyard on a hill above the sea, a cellar in an old stone building, a terrace among the olive trees.
Some recommendations:
- Clos Colombu near Calvi: an organic vineyard spanning 64 hectares, complete with olive trees and livestock. You can even take a carriage ride.
- Domaine de Torraccia near Porto-Vecchio: fully organic, beautifully situated, featuring original Corsican grape varieties.
- Clos Poggiale / Terra Vecchia near Aleria: 255 hectares with a history stretching back 2,000 years.
Insider tip Set aside a full day. Combine two or three winemakers with lunch at a local restaurant. Taste in moderation, but enjoy to the fullest.